My Tech: Josh Franceschi

■ The You Me At Six star, 28, on beating Joe Hart at Fifa, why Ricky Gervais is the man on Twitter and his Tamagotchi dying

What did you use to record the band’s new album, VI?

I used a Telefunken M82 microphone and Soundtoys 5 for effects and layering up synths. This was the first time I used this microphone.

What do you listen to music on at home?

A UE Megaboom. It’s portable so I can take it around the house and on the road and play it in the dressing room. I was recently sent a Sonos system but I haven’t set it up yet. Some of the other lads have Sonos and really like it.

Are you a gamer?

I am and I play one game very well — Fifa. I play it on the PS4. I’m in the top tier of musicians who play Fifa, there’s no doubt about it. We were on the Fifa 2014 soundtrack and I played it in a competition against other musicians and sportspeople. I beat Joe Hart and Greg Rutherford but lost in the final to José Enrique, who was left back for Liverpool. He got one past me at the last minute. I was heartbroken.

Anything else?

We play Grand Theft Auto on the road and the boys play Mario Kart on the Switch. When I was younger I played Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot. With Fifa you know that you’ll still be playing it for months until the next game comes out. It’s a consistently quality game.

What gadgets made an impression on you as a kid?

I had a Tamagotchi. I fed it and got upset when it died. It was a stepping stone to getting a goldfish.

Do you get what you pay for with headphones?

Definitely. As a musician and music obsessive I think it’s essential to be listening to and enjoying music to its full capacity. My favourite headphones are the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2s. Good EQ is massively important to me so I can appreciate the full scope of sound and nothing is compromised.

Who are your favourite people to follow on social media?

I use Twitter and Instagram the most. Twitter’s a good way of seeing what your fan base are into. We follow 2,000 of our fans and you can see what artists and films they’re talking about. My favourite person to follow on Twitter is Ricky Gervais. He says all the things about the s*** things in the world that I wish I could get away with saying, especially when it comes to cruelty to animals.

Are you concerned about AI raging out of control and enslaving humanity?

I saw the episode of Black Mirror where everyone rates each other about everything. How far away are we from that? How much of life has become a popularity contest anyway? I do worry about things getting out of control — maybe not ruining the planet but ruining the way we as humans treat each other.

Do you use any travel gadgets when you’re travelling on tour?

The lads like the Nintendo Switch. I use Bose Quiet Comfort noise-cancelling earphones.